Burnley College proudly hosted the second Thrive Summit, an event that brought together leaders from business, education and government to tackle pressing topics such as skills training, innovation and the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
Around 80 attendees gathered at Burnley College’s Performance Theatre to hear from a line-up of influential speakers, including Damian Waters, North West Director of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Jane Cole, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport. Together, they provided valuable perspectives on shaping the local and regional workforce to meet the challenges of the AI revolution.
Neil Burrows, Director of Skills, Innovation and Employer Engagement at Burnley College said the event brought together businesses across all sizes:
“We’re thrilled to see so many businesses eager to collaborate with educators and policymakers. The Thrive 2.0 Summit reinforced that for Lancashire and beyond to remain competitive, we need to bridge the gap between traditional practices and emerging technologies like AI.”
The Summit’s diverse agenda featured panel discussions on AI integration, the evolving skills agenda and reflections on the Government’s Spring Statement. Highlights included insights from Oliver Ryan, MP for Burnley, who championed Lancashire as a hub of innovation and James Stott, Burnley College’s IT expert, who showcased strategies for upskilling today’s workforce.
Oliver Ryan stated:
“If you’re not already doing something with Burnley College, do something. It will change your perception on partnership, the world and what’s possible.”
Industry leaders, including Mark Edwards of Seriun and Leon Calverley of Door4, underscored the importance of forming collaborations during an engaging panel discussion, applauding the College’s efforts to build future-ready talent pipelines.
Summit participant and business leader Jane Cole added:
“This collaboration between education and industry is truly game-changing. Burnley College is not only driving meaningful conversations but delivering practical solutions that will benefit businesses of every size.”
The event concluded on an optimistic note, with attendees networking and voicing their shared commitment to ensuring Lancashire achieves its potential as a leader in the skills revolution.
Kate Wallace, Deputy Principal of Burnley College, reflected on the event’s impact, saying:
“This summit reaffirmed that together we can transform education and industry in ways that improve lives, businesses, and communities. The energy and ideas showcased today are just the beginning of what we can achieve.”
Burnley College remains steadfast in its mission to drive innovation, upskill the workforce, and build enduring partnerships that propel our community forward.
- If your small business would like to be part of the next Thrive Summit, contact Neil Burrows: [email protected].
